Nov. 18, 2016

By Pete Wallner, MLive
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GRAND RAPIDS – It was unusual to have a nine-year veteran such as Matthew Ford anxious for a game in November, but he had good reason.

The 32-year old right winger waited just over a month to play his first game with Grand Rapids Griffins due to a preseason lower body injury. Once on the ice Wednesday, he wasted no time as the offseason signing scored in the first period in the Griffins' 6-3 win against Texas.

The two teams meet again 7 tonight at Van Andel Arena.

"Until you're playing in games, you don't feel in the mix," Ford said afterward. "Seeing the success this team has had lately, I knew once I was healthy that I wanted to have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the team."

Ford could be a big complement to the Griffins' offense. He had 27 goals (tied for eighth in the league) and 51 points last season at Bakersfield, and has 149 goals and 306 points in 480 career games with seven other AHL teams.

"He's a good leader in the room and provides offense for us as well," said coach Todd Nelson, who had Ford with him at Oklahoma City when he scored 44 goals and 100 points over two seasons in 2013-14 and 14-15.

Nelson thought enough of him that Ford is one of the alternate captains this season.

Playing on the third line with Evgeny Svechnikov and Kyle Criscuolo, Ford's goal Wednesday came 23 seconds after the Stars had scored and kept the Griffins with a two-goal margin at 3-1.

He said it didn't take long to get comfortable.

"There were a few times maybe where I wanted to get my timing down (better) but there were plays where I thought I was up to speed and thought I had it back," he said.

If nothing else, the Griffins are happy to have him on their side. In 23 career games against the Griffins, Ford picked up 12 points with four goals.

His arrival comes at a good time for the Griffins, who lost top scorer Anthony Mantha and emerging threat Tyler Bertuzzi to the Red Wings the past two weeks. The scoring has not diminished; the Griffins have 18 goals their past four games.

Nelson also said the team could get Eric Tangradi back as early as next week. The left winger, who tied for fourth in the AHL with 28 goals for the Griffins last season, has been out since Oct. 29 with a broken bone to his finger/knuckle. He is skating with the team, though not with contact.